降温

• Pinyin: jiàng wēn
• Hanzi breakdown: 降 = 阝(hill) + 夅 (phonetic) — to drop; 温 = 氵(water) + 昷 (warm) — temperature, warmth

Meaning

To cool down; temperature drop. A decrease in temperature or a reduction in intensity.

Used both literally for temperature decreases in weather and metaphorically for situations calming down or enthusiasm cooling off. Very common in weather reports and daily conversation. Related terms include 大幅降温 (steep temperature drop), 寒潮降温 (cold wave cooling), and 物理降温 (physical cooling, as a medical term).

Examples

1. 明天开始要大幅降温，大家注意保暖。 Starting tomorrow there will be a significant temperature drop; everyone should keep warm.
2. 喝点冰水可以帮助身体降温。 Drinking some ice water can help the body cool down.
3. 这件事的热度已经慢慢降温了。 The hype around this matter has gradually cooled off.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, health, figurative

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 天气预报说周末会降温。(The weather forecast says it will cool down this weekend.)
• 房地产市场最近有所降温。(The real estate market has cooled down recently.)

Don't Say

• 请降温这杯咖啡 (降温 is intransitive for weather and situations — to cool a drink, say 把咖啡放凉 or 让咖啡凉一凉)

Origin & History

A compound of 降 (to drop/reduce) and 温 (temperature/warmth), literally meaning to drop the temperature.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal